Female saxophone players are still a comparative rarity despite Humphrey Lyttelton's penchant for featuring them in his band - the excellent Jo Fooks and Karen Sharp following in the footsteps of the great Kathy Stobart. Rachel Musson hails from South Wales and trained at the Guildhall School and Trinity College. This CD marks the recording debut of her band Skein. All the compositions, bar Swansea Town, are by Musson.

The band's line-up is unusual in that there are two drummers on every
track with Morrison on a conventional kit providing the underlying
rhythms and the free-wheeling Carmona adding extra layers often with
a Latin tinge. Musson's tone is hard-edged and buzzy, sometimes straying
into squawk territory, but she has an excellent rapport with pianist
Alcyona Mick who provides intelligent support and contributes some
inventive solos. There are some meandering moments on some tracks
but the quintet is at its best on the reflective Chairs, where
Mussonplays with a softer tone,and the jaunty Irreconcilable
which also includes a strong solo by bassist Collier.

A promising debut, although the impressive Alcyona Mick rather steals
the show from her leader.